Route 128: Boston’s Technology Corridor

May 3, 2016

Guy Ashton, Sr. Manager of Connectivity

Boston will play “a pivotal role in the next wave of technology innovation, one that uses data and analytics to connect machines for big businesses,” as reported by the Boston Globe after a recent visit by General Electric’s chief executive, Jeff Immelt.

Other leading tech companies, such as Intel, IBM, Facebook and Twitter, have offices in the Boston metro area to leverage its unique environment for innovation and change.

GE’s decision to move to Boston was driven by its new emphasis on the “Industrial Internet of Things.” While he acknowledged that the “Industrial Internet” was part of a growing list of buzzwords, Immelt also noted the IIoT, and things like that, is “real and it’s going to happen.”

Those machines are getting smarter, more connected, and more efficient. The IIoT will allow for:“…Increased visibility and better insights into the performance of their equipment and assets. They need increased asset performance management software, which can provide them with answers on what equipment is most important, how it should be maintained and how unexpected failures can be avoided.”

For us, the key word here, of course, is data. We have six data centres in the greater Boston area, including two in Needham, on Route 128.

The 55-plus-mile Boston beltway that is Route 128 earned the name “America’s Technology Highway” preceding the first tech boom in the late 90s because of the high number of technology firms in the area. Not only did it once own that title, the flow of entrepreneurs from Harvard and MIT significantly contributed to Boston’s local economy boost with their startups.

Almost a decade later, some of those entrepreneurs have matured their businesses into established companies now using the same spirit of innovation to develop, enhance, and optimise their products.

We'd like to welcome our new neighbors in the Boston area and look forward to contributing to their success through our data centre solutions in the years ahead.